For the last 6 years, the Sacred
Heart Parish has sent young people to Lourdes as helpers with
Across Jumbulances. This enables them to give service to others,
as well as experiencing Lourdes itself. Fund raising events
are held during the year to support those young people who
are chosen to go.
Read what one of our helpers has to
say about her experience.
“Each year the Sacred Heart
Parish sends 2 or 3 young people to visit Lourdes and help
others less able visit the town. In July of 2003 I was fortunate
enough to be able to take part in this pilgrimage.
We travelled to Lourdes on a specially
equipped coach called a Jumbulance. Jumbulances have one aisle
of recliner seats and one aisle of trolley beds, where the
disabled pilgrims (VIPs) can stay. There is also a kitchen
and toilet as we were on the Jumbulance for 28 hours.
The Jumbulance set off from Scotland and
we were picked up at a service station near the M6. We then
continued down to Dover picking others up, until we had picked
up 8 VIPs and 16 helpers. The journey was tiresome but gave
us a chance to bond with everyone on the trip. By the time
we reached the hotel I felt I knew everyone in the group well.
During our week in Lourdes we had Mass
at a different church every day, visited Bernadette’s
Church, visited a mountain village and, of course, the Grotto.
We took part in the Torchlight procession many times and visited
the freezing cold baths.
Throughout the trip we pushed the VIPs’
wheelchairs and assisted them in anything that they needed.
This was mentally and physically challenging but very rewarding.
It was an amazing feeling knowing you’re helping someone
and it’s so touching when they thank you for your help.
This trip was a wonderful experience for
me. It really opened my eyes to the courage of people less
able than myself. I made some great friends, who I am still
in touch with now. I have nothing but happy memories of the
trip.”
To find our more about Across Jumbulances, visit their Web
site at http://www.across-uk.org |
